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January 2011
The issue was very good, but I would have chosen Gen. H. M. (“Howlin’ Mad”) Smith, USMC, as most underrated World War II general. He put in motion the amphibious tactics used in all theaters and won the Pacific War with limited resources. Interservice rivalry cut him out of the picture; he didn’t even attend the surrender ceremony on the USS Missouri !
I served as assistant division commander to Gen. Omar Bradley through the North African, Sicilian, and European campaigns. If the Ohio State history professor who calls him “overrated” knows what he’s talking about, then Generals Marshall and Eisenhower didn’t know what was going on during the war in Europe.
The most underrated President: Ronald Reagan (“Overrated & Underrated,” May/June)? Underrated by whom? The Republican party worships unceasingly at his shrine. They renamed National Airport in his honor. They named one of the biggest government office buildings in Washington after the guy. Reagan’s name was even included in a survey to put his genially vacuous face on Mount Rushmore, for goodness sake.
How about one of those Presidents who served their country well and are now all but forgotten? James Polk, Grover Cleveland, and William McKinley come to mind. Now George Bush might be considered underrated. But Ronald Reagan?
The coin designer’s aesthetic universe is measured in micrometers. Stacking requirements rule out the beautiful high relief typical of ancient coins, and U.S. law requires a clutter of mottoes and legends on every coin. “Liberty” and “E Pluribus Unum” were borrowed from regional coins and congressional medals predating 1792.
THE STORY OF BERLIN:
Kurf’furstendamm 207-208, Berlin. Call (in Berlin) 011-49-1805-992010 or visit www.story-of-berlin.de (in German). The show is given in German only.
CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN:
Near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Public “briefings” are given twice a week. Call 719-474-2238.
NEVADA TEST SITES:
Tours begin 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Call 702-295-0944 or visit www.nv.doe.gov/nts/tours.htm .
TITAN MISSILE MUSEUM:
1580 West Duval Mine Road, Sahuarita, Ariz. Call 520-625-7736 or visit www.pimaair.org .
HOUSE ON CHECKPOINT CHARLIE MUSEUM:
Friedrich strasse 43-44, Berlin. Call 011-49-30-253725-0 or visit www.brandenburg.de/land/mwfk/kultur/deutsch/gedenkst/ bln/charlied.html (in German).